Remarks by the President at Cinco de Mayo Reception
May 5, 2010 – “Make
no mistake, our immigration system is broken. And after so
many years in which Washington has failed to meet its responsibilities,
Americans are right to be frustrated, including folks along
border states. But the answer isn’t to undermine fundamental
principles that define us as a nation. We can’t start singling
out people because of who they look like, or how they talk,
or how they dress. We can’t turn law-abiding American citizens
—- and law-abiding immigrants —- into subjects of suspicion
and abuse... That’s not the answer. That’s not who we are
as the United States of America.
(complete
text)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton – Excerpt from taped Interview with NBC's David Gregory for May 2, 2010, edition of “Meet the Press”
“We have to try to balance the very legitimate concerns that Americans – not just people in Arizona but across the country - have about safe and secure borders, about trying to have comprehensive immigration reform, with a law that I think does what a state doesn't have the authority to do: try to impose its own immigration law that is really the province of the federal government.”
Statement by the President on Senate Proposal Outlined Today to Fix Our Nation’s Broken Immigration System
“It is the federal government's responsibility to enforce the law and secure our borders, as well as to set clear rules and priorities for future immigration. The continued failure of the federal government to fix the broken immigration system will leave the door open to a patchwork of actions at the state and local level that are inconsistent and as we have seen recently, often misguided. (complete text)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton answers question regarding Mexico’s travel warning about Arizona
Washington, D.C., April 29, 2010 – “It’s not a surprise that the Mexican Government has registered its very strong concern about the legislation passed across their border in Arizona, but so has President Obama and others. So we will be working to understand and try to mitigate the concerns on that and other issues with the Mexicans.” (full text)
President Obama addresses Arizona immigration law at Naturalization Ceremony for Active-Duty Service Members
Washington, D.C., April 23, 2010 – “Indeed, our failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others. And that includes, for example, the recent efforts in Arizona, which threatened to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.” (complete text)
Transcript of interview by Andrea Mitchell with Secretary Of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
April 27, 2010 – “…But let me say what I said when the bill was signed; that I thought it was unfortunate and misguided; that I think it will not be value-added to law enforcement, indeed, it will detract from some of the efforts that are already under way to really focus on the most serious offenders, the most serious criminals, the ones that not only have crossed the border illegally but are committing other crimes.” (full text)
Excerpt of statement by Attorney General Eric Holder at April 27, 2010, press conference
“I think that that law is an unfortunate one. I think that it is, I fear, subject to potential abuse… The Justice Department, along with… DHS, is looking at the law to decide exactly how we are going to react to it. We are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of a court challenge.” (additional excerpts)
Excerpts of deposition by Secretary Of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano at the Senate hearing of April 27, 2010
“…I think your observation bears repeating, and that is by helping Mexico, we help ourselves, and that particularly our assistance through Merida and other means in this issue on the cartels helps us. These cartels impact us, and that's why we view them as a -- as a homeland-security issue.” (additional excerpts)
Remarks by the President at Naturalization Ceremony for Active-Duty Service Members
Over the years, many have attempted to confront the challenges of illegal immigration in the United States. It has become a politically divisive issue. But we should agree that when 11 million people in the United States are living there illegally, outside the system, it is an unacceptable situation. The American people demand and deserve a solution. That solution is common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform grounded in the principles of responsibility and accountability. (complete text)
